New Guest Docks Set for Peninsula Park
February 13, 2012
Byline: Catherine French
CHANNEL ISLANDS HARBOR — Plans for a new transient/guest boater dock, new slips and new restroom/shower facilities have received approval from the California Coastal Commission, and if the permit process goes smoothly, construction could begin this fall.
“We received a unanimous vote from the commissioners for the improvement plans,” said Lyn Krieger, Channel Islands Harbor director. “We are very pleased that we can get started on this much-needed reconstruction.
“If the permitting process goes well, we expect the project to take about nine months to complete,” Krieger said. “We hope to begin work after Labor Day this year, and be completed by mid 2013.”
Peninsula Park is located on the west facing side of the peninsula that separates the east and west channels of the harbor. The park is a popular venue for families and has a public tennis court. It is also the site for the “Concerts by the Sea” and “Fairy Tales in the Park” summer series.
Peninsula Park’s current 400-foot wooden dock provides room for 11 side-ties to accommodate transient/guest boats — and those facilities, along with the restrooms/showers, are not compliant with contemporary Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards.
The new construction will include 26 boat slips, an 80-foot-long ADA-compliant gangway, modern utility infrastructure, a security gate, a dump station and a vessel pumpout facility. The new dock system will be constructed of concrete floating docks and pre-stressed concrete anchor guide piles, and it will contain 26 “head-in” slips that will accommodate boats from 26 to 50 feet in length.
“This is an important part of the upgrade,” Krieger said. “With heavy winter storms, the additional slip space will provide safe haven for commercial (vessel operators) as well as private boaters. Boaters will be able to rent the slips from the Harbor Department for overnight use, from one to 10 nights.”
No day-use fees will be charged for day-only use.
Additionally, a new dinghy dock will be available — with multiple tie-up cleats to accommodate dinghies and kayaks.
The project plan includes razing the current restroom/shower structure and replacing it with a new building that will be located closer to the tennis court. This will create an unobstructed view corridor, Krieger said.
“The Harbor Department will make arrangements through annual permits for junior sailing, outrigger clubs and other similar groups for use of the slips,” Krieger added. Access will be provided through the use of a keyless entry system for the dock, restrooms and showers.
The estimated $1.5 million project will be paid for, in part, by a grant of $759,000 from the National Boating Infrastructure Grant (BIG) Program. BIG provides funds to states for the construction, renovation, and maintenance of public and private boating infrastructure tie-up facilities with features for transient boaters with vessels 26 feet or larger.
